I.W.I. world president visits Christchurch

Press, 20 October 1983, Page 21

I.W.I. world president visits Christchurch

Building links of friendship and understanding was the aims of Inner Wheel International, said its world president, Mrs Esther Vibal, of the Philippines, yesterday. We are trying to establish peace with peoples,” she said. Mrs Vibal was in Christchurch to address a sixmonthly district meeting of Inner Wheel, a service and social organisation of wives and widows of members of the Rotary service club. She said the organisation, which had about 80,000 members meeting in 60 countries, helped teach the , ideals of service. > Members in developed ' countries such as New Zealand visited hospitals, spon- '* sored needy children, and did community work. In the developing countries of Asia and Africa, members assisted with more basic needs such as commissioning water supplies. After 20 years as an Inner Wheel member, Mrs Vibal believes the organisation can be effective in all parts of the world. Members share common aims which they communicate by writing to linked clubs and at international meetings. Mrs Vibal began her year’s term as the Inner Wheel president in July. She since has been to the United 'States, London, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand. A former journalist, she and her husband now run a publishing firm in Quezon Qity, north-east of the Philippines’ capital, ftfcnila. 1 It was eight years'since —an Inner Wheel world presi-

dent had visited this country, said Mrs June Wallace, the New Zealand member ,on the group’s international board.

In that time Inner Wheel had developed quickly and there were now 74 clubs in New Zealand. The clubs, in the Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast district, had 478 members, she said. About 75 women in the district had gathered for Mrs Vibal’s visit, part of a one-week tour of New Zealand. A token red rose of friendship was presented to Mrs Vibal by a Filipino woman who has been living in Westport for several years.